The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-13
KISSANE AS A FILIBUSTER.
Statements by Old Comrades-Brave in Ac
ton, but Willing to Share in the Loot.

Statements by Old Comrades-Brave in Ac-
ton, but Willing to Share in the Loot.
New York Herald.
Mark Pit,man, a railroad man, who was one of
Walkers flibusters in Nicaragua and left an
arm in that country in an interview, to-day.
gives some personal "reminiscences of William
kissane.
Pittman says: "Kssane came out from New
Orleans and Joined the expedition in the city of
Leon He was well known to the filibusters by
reputation, and was then little over thirty
years of age, and, al though was but boy,
soon became very intimate. Kissane we'll
posted on Central American affairs. and he made
many things clear to He and occuped
large room bordering on the ours-yard Little
Kipp and Oliver completed our mess. kissane
occasionally entertained US with the history of
his exploits. The burning of the Martha Wash
lngton was enough. in our youthful eyes, to
make him a hero, but that he only an ia-
strument in the hands of craftier men in this
affair am fully convinced.
''On the night of the 18th of December. ks
sane, klpp and myself were practcing with the
broadswori, when the door suddenly opened and
In walked Oliver, dragging behind him a badly
scared negro, whom he had detected in the act
of robbing one of the large hacierdas near the
town. We searched him. and found secreted
under his shirt a small-szed sandalwoed box.
We opened 1t, and before our eyes blazed the
most magnificent diamond necklace that had
ever SEEN There were twenty-three stones,
none of them weighing less than four carats
each. 1t did not take long TO detach the dia
nonds and divide them between Oliver
then showed the negro through the door, and
both disappeared in the darkness. The next
morning a negro about his size found stone
dead shot through the heart. near the plaza.
Il carried the gems about my person until
was wounded. After my recovery l found they
had inysterously disappeared Kipp saved his
and sold them in New York for SIS. 000 He af-
terward told me that the proceeds lasted him
just three days. Oliver poor fellow was short
ly after killed in street brawl When reached
his dead body found another hand had preced-
ed me in claiming the diamonds.
'kssane was now in high favor with Walker.
There were eight of US under his immediate
command, and we called it the hacienda depart
ment l accompanied him in every foraging ex-
petition into the country and must say that
never saw him perpetuate single act of cruel
ty. The charge that klssane captured several
Indian women and held them as hostages is alb
solutely false In the month of January our
company, with two Others, We're ordered to gar
rIson the city of Leon.
I'VE were four days in making the march. and
the people received US with open arms. kissane
had mean while been appointed chief OF the COM
missary department. We staid hero two
mouths. and were then ordered by Walker to
return to Grenada and join his force. which
then advancing toward the city of Rivas to
meet the allied troops of the five republics.
The little city of Rivas the scene of the
bloodest battle of the war. Our force consisted
of 416 Americans and 100 natives. while the
allies we're 2.2G0 strong, and they received rein
forcements of ], 800 more during the fight. kis-
sane, eager to engage IN the fray, joined our
company IN the caoaclty of private. In the
act of dragging off a cannon within our lines
was shot through the arm. l scarcely knew it
at the time as | was greatly excited. They last
l remember was VOICE IN my ear. ''Lleufens
ant Pittman, l congratulate you" II wfls
Walker, and had been promoted on the fei IA
tine next remem Der i was on mule, Witt
Kissane beside I was suffering from wfr
pain, and falling back. He whooY
for me to keep up my courage, and. ap,sg G
something to nv nostrils knew nothing n o.
until, on recovering consciousness, was ~ II
old apartments in Grenada, minus an arm
After my recovery, through the machina ii ons
certain officers. was unjustiy accused If insu
ordination, stood court-martlal and W as Sc
! fenced to death l was finally released .throue
| the endeavors of kissane, who mad iu ID inf
| ence with Walker. The history of .hp, matt
alone would make an interesting sto fy.. final
| went home, firmly vowlng never to flibust
! again / have never seen ksse ne since tn
| time"
| Mr. Maurice Scully, we'll p own wa eehous
man Of this city. was captal'i of Germany
| Second Infantry. Nlcaraguan army Ibis sta,
| ment differs widely from tn lat of Putnam Scul
has no recollection of k5ssane at all. bnt W
well acquainted with Colon 81 William +. Rod
ers. of Walkers command.
| OF this acquaintance he s, ,aaks ss follows.
went to Nicaragua il Ma 70 n 1886 on the stea,
er Charles Morgan, IT 20 mpany with some 3
more, under the comiDi Az of General Horrse
| and arrived In time ito participate in the fiji
fight of Rivas on the J lth of April, 1856 {
the march from Granad a to Rivas / became {
quainted with Colonel William K Rodgers, a
continued an intlmar acquaintance with hi
until after the surrf,n ier ard continued the {
qualntance for sewers months after we return
to New Orleans.
AS regards the anne Kissane, / never hea
1t until reac OF '.t few days ago. 1 knt
nothing of Colon u Rodgers but as brave S
der and high tc ned gentleman. AS regar
TINS man for ne, who says Colonel Rodge
caused the eE eeIition of Scales, 1 don't knt
Young ana Aor.'t remember him. AS regar
Scales 1 kn w that he deserted, and. as offic
or the day It the time of the surrender, l nes
heard OF ; ea' ess execution before until readi
OF 1t the tn er day AS regards the burning
the Mart'aa Washington, l never heard Color
Rodgerss iame connected with the affair by a
person OF standing. Colonel Rodgers was %
who wafs trusted with'a good deal of money a
article of value, as he was Minister of the Ha
endas Il never knew any person to speak of Co
mel i .o' tgers except in the highest of terms
rega I'd the forgeries spoken of in the papers
Know nothing about them. | speak of Colol
Roasy srs as | knew him, and the last heard
him 'ne had gone to California"
THE THIRTY-SIXTH SECTION.